PARISH HISTORY

President Eisenhower was in the White House and Pope John XXIII had just announced the creation of commissions to prepare for the forthcoming ecumenical Vatican Council II. The Washington Senators baseball team was at Griffith Stadium. “My Fair Lady” was playing at the National Theatre. An eleven cubic foot Admiral refrigerator sold for $159, chuck roast was 39¢ per pound, flounder 45¢ per pound, and milk was 48¢ per gallon. The date was June 18, 1960.

The Beginning
On this date, Rev. E. Albert Hughes, assumed his duties as Pastor of St. Matthias parish. The rectory at 9302 Fontana Drive, Lanham, about three blocks from the church property, provided Father Hughes with a home base for building a new parish. It was purchased June 16, 1960 for $18,400.

The site of the present facility, in 1960, was an undeveloped 11.575 acre wooded tract. The Archdiocese of Washington purchased a 10.001 acre tract from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph D. Malloy on April 6, 1954, and the balance of the present property from Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Jamesonon September 21, 1955.

Two hundred sixty-five families were served by this parish which was carved out of St. Mary’s, Landover Hills, and Ascension, Bowie parishes. Until the church was built, Masses were offered at the Chapel of the Divine Savior Seminary on Princess Garden Parkway, Lanham.

On the Way
A Church, School and Convent Building Fund Campaign was undertaken in April 1961. The Campaign Director was Bob Reilly of Robert Benedict Reilly Associates, Arlington, Virginia. The Most Reverend Patrick A. O’Boyle, D.D., Archbishop of Washington, was the honored guest preacher in the Seminary Chapel and blessed the 112 campaign volunteers.

The campaign concluded May 26, 1961, with the minimum goal of $75,000 exceeded by $32,430.

The contract for construction of the church, school and convent was awarded April 27, 1961, to Viner Construction Company at a total cost of $385,858. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new church was held on April 23, 1961.

The New Church, School and Convent
The architect’s drawing shows the new church, convent and school to be constructed. The structure was designed by John Henry Sullivan, Jr., AIA. The 132-foot long church would seat six hundred people.


Two classrooms in the school were completed in September 1961 for ninety students in first and second grades. The Sisters of Divine Providence staffed the school. A split level convent around a large open court and two more classrooms were being built. An overflow congregation of more than seven hundred persons attended dedication exercises Sunday, February 25, 1962. The Most Reverend Patrick A. O’Boyle, Archbishop of Washington, blessed and dedicated the handsome new steel and glass church of contemporary architecture, and also blessed the new four classroom school and parish convent on the same site. Paying warm tribute to the Rev. E. Albert Hughes, the founding Pastor, the Archbishop thanked him and his Assistant, the Rev. Peter R. Alliata, and their parishioners for “your hard work ands acrifices in making possible this beautiful church for the honor and glory of God and the betterment of your immortal souls.

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